From Picture to Poem

Are you the type of person that wanders through vintage stops or photo archives wondering about the stories behind each object? Do you have a box of found objects, old photographs, or paper scraps that you’ve been saving for that one project some day? 

Join the Chinese American Museum on Thursday, July 23, from 6 – 8 PM for From Picture to Poem, a generative poetry workshop inspired by artifacts from the museum’s archives. Using these historical materials as creative prompts, participants will explore collaging to create “found” writing in different hybrid writing styles and modalities. Through a series of playful writing exercises, participants will also experiment with new ways to find inspiration, connect with community history, and transform archival images (and stories) into original works of art.    

Attendees will walk away with three pieces of visual poetry that combine their own words and sentiments with images from the CAM archives. 

**This workshop is hosted and lead by Taz Ahmed and jason chu, artists featured in CAM’s current exhibition, (Be)Spoken: Poems from Our Asian American Voices. Spaces in the workshop may be limited. 

About the Workshop Leads: 

jason chu is a prominent rapper and activist in the national Asian American scene. He’s been heard in movies, TV shows, and video games including Warrior, American Born Chinese, Joy Ride, and Valorant. As a content creator, jason’s videos on history, society, and culture regularly go viral. He’s worked with the LA Mayor’s Office, and serves as guest curator of the (Be)Spoken exhibition at the Chinese American Museum. 

Tanzila “Taz” Ahmed is a political strategist, storyteller, and artist based in Los Angeles. An Active writer, both her essays and poetry have been published in numerous publications and collections. Her latest poetry collection “Grasping At This Planet Just to Believe” was published April 2024 with Writ Large Projects.  

Holy Shiitake! A Wok Star is Born ft. Katie Chin

Experience an unforgettable evening with the Chinese American Museum on Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 PM at the historic Pico House (424 N. Main St.) for Holy Shiitake! A Wok Star is Born, a hilarious and heartfelt one‑woman show starring celebrity chef Katie Chin. Join us for an hour of laughter, inspiration, and deliciously told tales.

**Doors will open at 6:30 pm and a short reception will follow the show. Tickets begin at $25 and are available for purchase at camla.org/holyshiitake.

About the Show:
Holy Shiitake! A Wok Star is Born, written by Katie Chin and produced by Paul Hemstreet, chronicles Chef Katie Chin’s life as a Chinese American girl in 1970s Minneapolis. Her mother, Leeann Chin, is a seamstress turned restaurateur who inspires a young Katie to embark on her own culinary journey. Be captivated by her unique blend of humor, storytelling, and culinary expertise. Prepare to be entertained as she shares her personal journey of becoming a Wok Star and conquering the culinary world.

About Katie Chin:
Celebrity chef Katie Chin is an award-winning cookbook author, caterer, playwright, and Culinary Ambassador to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. After growing up in the kitchens of her mother Leeann Chin’s celebrated Minneapolis restaurants, she left a career in film and TV marketing to return to food, eventually co‑hosting the PBS series Double Happiness and authoring five cookbooks.